Labeling machine



A ril 14, 1964 B. LERh IER ETAL- LABELING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 27; 1961 xmmfim W5 m M n Mo 2? m d wmmm flt fa BM? 7 Y E April 14, 1964 B. LERNER ETAL LABELING MACHINE! Filed June 27, 1961 INVENTORS Bernard Lerner Mil tOfZ Eothsfie/h Marten Ea Za/Z Geo/ 9 h ame);

W ,4 rroz/vs vs SEQUENCE NTROL TO ELE C 720125 April 14,. 1964 B. LERNER ETAL LABELING MACHINE File d June 27, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 5 my WW Mn WW W W W t r 25 m W U .Q 0 mmmw Z2 United States Patent Ofi ice 3,129,130 Patented Apr. 14, 1964 3,129,130 LABELING MACEHNE Bernard Lerner, Great Neck, Milton Rothstein, East Williston, Martin Kaplan, Oceanside, and Georg Hrarnoff, New York, NFL, assignors to Willcox & Gibbs Sewing Machine (10., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed dune 27, 1961, er. No. 119,922 20 Claims. (Cl. 156-367) The present invention relates to a machine for applying labels, tags or the like to an article, at least one of which includes thermoplastic materials, and more particularly to a novel means for automatically removing labels from a supply thereof, applying the labels to garments and securing them by high frequency heating.

Heretofore, in applying labels, tags or the like to garments, it has been necessary to place the unfolded garment over a heating plate in order to affix the label thereto. If the garments were folded, it was necessary to unfold the garment and to refold it after the label is applied.

This presented a problem in afiixing labels in which the garments could not be prefolded and labeled as desired. The handling of the garments in unfolded condition or in unfolding and refolding has been a tedious and time consuming operation, and the positioning of the garment over a hot plate has under some circumstances produced scorching of the garment.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome these difliculties and provide a device for quickly and accurately applying labels to an article with a minimum of handling of the garment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple and effective means for automatically removing the label from a supply, transporting the label to an applying position over the garment, at least one of which includes theremoplastic material, and securing the label to said garment by high frequency heating.

A feature of the invention resides in the ease with which the label can be secured to folded garments Without undue handling and without the use of a hot plate with its attendant danger of scorching the garment.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the specification and claims when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 shows a perspective of the label applying machine.

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged detail view of the label applying mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a control system for the machine.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view similar to FIG. 2 of another form of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial end view looking from the left in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary detail view of another form of label applying mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a detail view similar to FIG. 6 of a still further form of label applying device.

As shown in FIG. 1, the label applying machine 10 has an anvil 11 projecting from the front thereof and having electrode means 12 thereon. The machine is provided with a swinging arm 13 having a head 14 carrying cooperating electrode means 15 thereon movable from a normal position below a hopper 16 for labels 17 or the like to a label applying position. The label is carried by the arm into engagement with and positioned over an article disposed over the anvil 11 for the purpose of fastening the label thereto. A pedal operated switch 18 is provided for initiating a cycle of operation employed in securing the label in position.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-3, the anvil 11 projects outwardly and is adapted to have an article 19, such as a garment, whether in folded or unfolded condition, located thereover. The swinging arm 13 is mounted on a shaft 20 rotatably carried by side frames 21 for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to the front of the machine and is provided at its outer end with the pivotal electrode carrying head 14 having the cooperating electrode 15 which is adapted, when in applying position, to overlie and cooperate with the electrode means in the anvil. While the electrode means in the anvil and the cooperating electrode carried by the arm may be energized, it is at present preferred to form the electrode means by providing positive and negative high frequency electrodes 22, 23 in the anvil and use the cooperating electrode as a bridging electrode for overlying the two electrodes and completing the path between electrodes whereby high frequency current is caused to pass from the positive to the negative electrode during the sealing operation.

While the garment may contain thermoplastic material to which the label is adhered in the labeling operation, it is at present preferred to provide the labels with a suitable quantity of thermoplastic material which, when heated by the high frequency current, softens and adheres the label to the garment. The thermoplastic material may be applied by any suit-able means, such as by a surface coating or being woven into the label or parts thereof. The labels are stacked in the hopper 16 which has an open bottom 16a through which the labels can be removed. The hopper is disposed above the anvil and located in such a position that the cooperating electrode is moved under the bottom of the hopper to engage and receive the lowermost label when the arm is swung to its normal raised position. While various means may be employed to hold the label in position over the cooperating electrode, in the preferred form of the invention ports 25 are provided in the electrode carrying head and preferably in the electrode itself, as shown in the sectional view of the electrode in FIG. 4, which are connected by a flexible tube 26 through valve 27, preferably a solenoid operated valve, to a source of vacuum 28 In order to swing the arm between label receiving position and label applying position, various means may be employed. In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 2, a fluid operated piston and cylinder means 30 is mounted on the frame and the piston rod 31 is connected to a rack 32 cooperating with a gear 33 on the shaft 20 for swinging the arm through a cycle for each complete reciprocation of the piston. A backup roller 34 is provided for maintaining the rack in proper engagement with the gear.

The piston and cylinder means is connected to a source 35 of fluid under pressure through a valve 35a, preferably a solenoid operated valve. Inasmuch as the arm moves through approximately between label receiving position and label applying position, means are provided for rotating the electrode carrying head through approximately 90 with respect to the arm in order to present an electrode in proper position to receive the label and to apply the label.

In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 2, the head 14 is mounted by a pivot 36 to the end of the arm 13 and carries a plate 37 thereon provided with a cam track 38 therein cooperating with a fixed follower 39 mounted on the side frame in such a position that as the arm moves from normal position to label applying position, the follower operating in the cam track will cause the head to pivot on the arm as an incident to the movement of the arm and move the cooperating electrode into cooperating 89 position in which the label is positioned in superposed relation with the garment for application thereto.

Although the electrode means, which are connected to a high frequency generator 40, may be energized continuously, it is at present preferred to connect the electrode means through a normally open switch 41 operable when the electrodes are in cooperating relation to energize the electrodes to soften the thermoplastic and adhere the label to the garment.

In operation, the arm 13 is normally disposed in its upright position, as shown in FIG. 1, in which the cooperating electrode 15 carried by the head is located below the hopper 16 in position to receive the lowermost label 17 from the hopper. The operator places a garment over the anvil and closes the pedal operated switch 18 to energize a suitable sequence control means 42 for moving the arm through a cycle by first closing the circuit to the solenoid valve 27 to connect the vacuum supply through the flexible hose or tube 26 to the ports 25 in the head. This causes the bottom label to be removed from the stack of labels in the hopper and to be positioned and held over the cooperating electrode 15. After an interval of time sufiicient to secure the label in position on the head, the sequence control means 42. closes the circuit to the solenoid valve 35a connecting the pressure supply to the fluid pressure-operated cylinder and piston means to move the arm from its label receiving position to label applying position. As the arm moves, it causes the head to pivot and carry the label into label applying position. In this position the head engages and closes a normally open switch 41 to the high frequency generator 40 to apply high frequency current to the electrodes to cause the thermoplastic material to soften and adhere the label to the garment. The sequence control means operates the valve 27 to remove the vacuum from the cooperating electrode head to release the hold on the label and operates valve 35a to cause the piston and cylinder means to be reversed, driving the arm back to its normal raised position. The movement of the head from cooperating relation automatically opens the circuit at switch 41 to the high frequency generator and places the cooperating electrode carrying head under the label hopper for the next cycle of operation.

In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 4, the arm 13 is pivoted on pivot pin a and is connected by toggle link means 42 to a fluid piston and cylinder means 43 which is pivotally mounted in ears 44 on the frame of the machine. The toggle link is connected to the piston rod 43a in such a manner that as the piston moves to the full line position of FIG. 4 from a retracted position shown in dot and dash lines, it swings the arm from a position under the hopper to an applying position in which the label is held in contact with the garment with the cam plate 37a carried by the head 14 having cam track 38a cooperating with the fixed follower 39a pivoting the head on the arm incident to the movement of the arm. When the head is in applying position, it will close the switch and energize the electrodes 22, 23 and the sequence means will then release the suction and energize the piston and cylinder means to move the arm back to normal position.

In the form of the invention schematically shown in FIG. 6 the usual pressure ram 46 on the press is operated by the usual piston and cylinder means (not shown) for moving the electrode 15 into attaching position in contact with the article 19 disposed on the anvil 47. The ram is provided with a piston and cylinder means 48 having a rack 49 connected to the piston rod 50 and engaging a gear 51 secured to an arm 13b pivotally carried by the ram. With the ram in its normally raised position, an electrode carrying head 14b carried by the arm 13b is in the dot and dash position of FIG. 6 with the electrode disposed below the open bottom of the hopper 16 to receive a label 17 therefrom. The ports in the electrode are connected to the vacuum hose or tube 26 which is connected to the source of vacuum.

When the operator starts the cycle of the label applying operation, the vacuum is applied to hold the bottom label to the electrode 15!) and the piston and cylinder means 58 will operate the rack to move the head and electrode to the full line position of FIG. 6 under the ram. As the ram moves the electrode into engagement with the article, the normally open switch 41 is closed to energize the electrodes and secure the label. Thereafter, the cycle causes the ram 46 to raise and the piston and cylinder means 48 to move the arm and electrode into label receiving position.

FIG. 7 shows a modification of the form of the invention employing the ram 46 of FIG. 6 wherein a stationary rack bar 60 is mounted on the press to cooperate with a mutilated gear 61 secured to the arm 13c pivoted to the ram. With the ram in its normally raised position, the gear 61 cooperating with the rack holds the pivoted arm carrying the cooperating electrode 150 to a position under the hopper 16 carrying the supply of labels 17. When the cycle is started, vacuum applied to the cooperating electrode holds the label thereto as described before, and as the ram moves downwardly the gear and rack will cause the arm 13c to swing the head to the position in which the arm carrying the cooperating electrode is located under the ram. In this position the mutilated gear 61 leaves the rack teeth and slides down the uncut portion of the rack bar as the head and label move into label applying position over the material 19 on the anvil 47. In this position the electrodes are energized to afiix the label as previously described. The sequence means then causes vacuum to be released and the ram to raise to the dot and dash position. Incident to the movement, the mutilated gear will engage the rack and will swing the pivoted arm back to its normal position.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

We claim:

1. A device for applying labels to articles, at least one of which includes thermoplastic material, comprising an anvil having heating means over which an article is disposed; a fixed hopper having a supply of labels therein and provided with an open bottom for removal of the labels seriatim therefrom; means carrying a cooperating heating means swingable in a predetermined path between a label receiving position and a position overlying said article on the anvil and having means for holding a label thereto; actuating means operating the means carrying the cooperating heating means to move the label into engagement with the article on the anvil with the cooperating heating means in cooperative relation with the heating means on the anvil; and means energizing the heating means to cause the thermoplastic material to soften and adhere the label to said article.

2. A device for applying labels to articles, at least one of which includes thermoplastic material comprising an anvil projecting from the machine and over which an article is disposed; a hopper having a stack of labels disposed above and to the rear of said anvil, said hopper releasably holding the labels for removal from the bottom thereof; heating means including a movable bridging member; means moving said bridging member in a predetermined path between the hopper and a position overlying said article on the anvil; means on the bridging member for engaging and removing the bottom label from the hopper, said bridging member moving the label forwardly and downwardly into engagement with the article on the anvil; and means energizing the heating means, when in cooperative relation, to cause the thermoplastic material to soften and adhere the label to said article.

3. A device for applying labels to articles comprising an anvil having spaced positive and negative high frequency electrodes over which an article is disposed; a fixed hopper having a supply of labels, each including thermoplastic material, therein; a bridging electrode movable in an arcuate path between the hopper and a position overlying said article on the anvil; means including ports in the face of the bridging electrode and a vacuum source connected thereto for holding a label thereto for removal from the hopper; actuating means for said bridging electrode for moving the label intoengagement with the article on the anvil with the bridging electrode in cooperative (relation with the high frequency electrodes; and means energizing the high frequency electrodes to cause the thermoplastic material to soften and adhere the label to said article.

4. A device for applying labels including thermoplastic material to articles comprising an anvil having spaced positive and negative high frequency electrodes over which an article is disposed; a hopper having a supply of labels including thermoplastic material therein; a bridging electrode movable between the hopper and a position overlying said article on the anvil; means including ports in the face of the bridging electrode; means connecting a vacuum sowrce to the ports for holding a label thereto for removal from the hopper; actuating means for swinging said bridging electrode to move the label into pressing engagement with the article on the anvil with the bridging electrode in cooperative relation with the high frequency electrodes; and control means for sequentially operating the means connecting the source of vacuum to the ports, the actuating means and means energizing the high frequency electrodes, when in cooperative relation, to cause the thermoplastic material to soften and adhere the label to said article.

5. A device for applying labels to articles, at least one of which includes thermoplastic material, comprising an anvil having high frequency electrode means over which an article is disposed; a hopper having a supply of labels therein and provided with an open bottom for removal of the labels seriatim therefrom; means carrying a cooperating electrode means swingable in a predetermined path between a label receiving position and a position overlying said article on the anvil and having means for holding a label thereto, said last-named means comprising ports in a label receiving face thereon; control means connecting said ports to a source of vacuum in label receiving position and maintaining said connection until the label is in position overlying the article; actuating means operating means carrying the cooperating electrode means to move the label into engagement with the article on the anvil with the cooperating electrode means in cooperative relation with the high frequency electrode means; and means energizing the electrode means, when in cooperative relation, to cause the thermoplastic material to soften and adhere the label to said article.

6. A device for applying labels to articles, at least one of which includes thermoplastic material, comprising an anvil having high frequency electrode means over which an article is disposed; a hopper having a supply Olf labels therein and provided with an open bottom for removal of the labels seriatim from the bottom thereof; a cooperating electrode movable in a predetermined path between the hopper and a position overlying said article on the anvil; means on the cooperating electrode for holding a label thereto for removal from the hopper; means including a fluid-operated piston and cylinder means for moving said cooperating electrode and the label thereon into engagement with the article on the anvil with the cooperating electrode in cooperative relation with the high frequency electrode means; and means energizing the high frequency electrode means to cause the thermoplastic material to soften and adhere the label to said article.

7. A device for applying labels to articles, at least one of which includes thermoplastic material, comprising an anvil having high frequency electrode means over which an article is disposed; a hopper having a supply of labels therein and provided with an open bottom for removal of the labels seriatim from the bottom thereof; a cooperating electrode movable in a predetermined path between the hopper and a position overlying said article on the anvil; means on the cooperating electrode for holding a label thereto for removal from the hopper; means for moving the cooperating electrode in said predetermined path including a fluid-operated piston and cylinder means for driving a rack and gear, to move the label from the hopper into engagement with the article on the anvil with the cooperating electrode in cooperative relation with the high frequency electrode means; and means energizing the electrodes, when in cooperative relation, to cause the thermoplastic material to soften and adhere to said article.

8. A device for applying labels to articles, at least one of which includes thermoplastic material, comprising a projecting anvil having spaced positive and negative high frequency electrodes over which an article is disposed; a hopper having a supply of labels therein and provided with an open bottom for removal of the labels seriatim from the bottom thereof; a bridging electrode movable forwardly and downwardly in a predetermined path between the hopper and a position overlying said article on the anvil; means on the bridging electrode for holding a label thereto for removal from the hopper; means including a rack and gear means (for moving said bridging electrode in said predetermined path to move the label into engagement with the article on the anvil with the bridging electrode in cooperative relation with the high frequency electrodes; and means energizing the high frequency electrodes to cause the thermoplastic material to soften and adhere to said article.

9. A device for applying labels to articles, at least one of which includes thermoplastic material, comprising an anvil having a first electrode means over which an article is disposed; a hopper having a stack of labels, said hopper releasably holding the labels for removal from the bottom thereof; a swinging arm having cooperating electrode means thereon, said arm being normally disposed with the cooperating electrode means below the hopper in label receiving position; means for swinging the arm and moving said cooperating electrode means in a predetermined path between label receiving position and a position overlying said article on the anvil; means for holding the bottom label in position over said cooperating electrode means for movement therewith into engagement with the article on the anvil with the coopcrating electrode means in cooperative relation with the high frequency electrode means; and high frequency means energizing the electrode means, when in cooperative relation, to cause the thermoplastic material to soften and adhere the label to said article.

10. A device for applying labels to articles, at least one of which includes thermoplastic material comprising an anvil having spaced high frequency electrode means over which an article is disposed; a hopper having a stack of labels, said hopper releasably holding the labels for removal from the bottom thereof; a swinging arm having cooperating electrode means thereon provided with ports therein; means for swinging the arm and moving said cooperating electrode means in a predetermined path between a normal position below the hopper and a position overlying said article on the anvil; means comprising a source of vacuum connected to the ports to provide a suction thereon to remove the bottom label from the hopper and hold it in position over said cooperating electrode means for movement into engagement with the article on the anvil with the cooperating electrode means in cooperative relation with the high frequency electrode means; and means energizing the electrode means, when in cooperative relation, to cause the thermoplastic material to soften and adhere the label to said article.

11. A device for applying labels to articles, at least one of which includes thermoplastic material, comprising an anvil having spaced positive and negative high frequency electrodes over which an article is disposed; a hopper having a stack of labels disposed therein for removal from the bottom of the hopper; a bridging electrode; means moving the bridging electrode from a normal label receiving position to and from a label applying posi tion overlying said article on the anvil including means operable in response to said movement for swinging said bridging electrode in a predetermined path; means on the bridging electrode for engaging and holding thereto the bottom label in the stack for removal individually from the hopper, said bridging electrode pressing the label into engagement with the article on the anvil with the bridging electrode in cooperative relation with the high frequency electrodes; and means energizing the high frequency electrodes to cause the thermoplastic material to soften and adhere the label to said article.

12. A device for applying labels to articles comprising an anvil having spaced positive and negative high frequency electrodes over which an article is disposed; a hopper having a stack of labels, each including thermoplastic material, therein for removal from the bottom of the hopper; a bridging electrode; means including piston and cylinder means having link means connected thereto for moving the bridging electrode to and from a label applying position overlying said article on the anvil; cam means operable in response to said movement for swing ing said bridging electrode between said hopper and said article in a predetermined path; means on the bridging electrode for engaging and holding thereto the bottom label in the stack for removal individually from the hopper, said bridging electrode pressing the label into engagement with the article on the anvil with the bridging electrode in cooperative relation with the high frequency electrodes; and means energizing the high frequency electrodes to cause the thermoplastic material of the label to soften and adhere to said article.

13. A device for applying labels to articles comprising an anvil having spaced positive and negative high frequency electrodes over which an article is disposed; a hopper having a stack of labels, each including thermoplastic material, therein for removal from the bottom of the hopper; a bridging electrode; means mounting the bridging electrode on a ram means for moving the bridging electrode to and from a label applying position overlying said article on the anvil, said means including a pivotal mounting for the electrode; a fluid piston and cylinder means on the ram operating a rack and gear connection to the pivotal mounting for swinging said bridging electrode in a predetermined path between a label receiving position and label applying position; means on the bridging electrode for engaging and holding thereto the bottom label in the stack for removal individually from the hopper, said ram means pressing the label on the bridging electrode into engagement with the article on the anvil with the bridging electrode in cooperative relation with the high frequency electrodes; and means energizing the high frequency electrodes to cause the thermoplastic material of the label to soften and adhere to said article.

14. A device for applying labels to articles comprising an anvil having spaced positive and negative high frequency electrodes over which an article is disposed; a hopper having a stack of labels, each including thermoplastic material, therein for removal from the bottom of the hopper; a bridging electrode; means mounting the bridging electrode on a ram means for moving the bridging electrode to and from a label applying position overlying said article on the anvil, said means including a pivotal mounting for the electrode; a fixed rack; gear means cooperable with said rack and connected to said bridging electrode for pivoting said bridging electrode between said hopper and said article in a predetermined path in response to movement of the ram means; means on the bridging electrode for engaging and holding thereto the bottom label in the stack for removal individually from the hopper, said ram means pressing the label on the bridging electrode into engagement with the article on the anvil with the bridging electrode in cooperative relation with the high frequency electrodes; and means energiz- 8 ing the high frequency electrodes to cause the thermoplastic material of the label to soften and adhere to said article.

15. A device for applying labels to articles comprising an anvil having spaced positive and negative high frequency electrodes over which an article is disposed; a hopper having a stack of labels, each including thermoplastic material, therein for removal from the bottom of the hopper; a bridging electrode; means including piston and cylinder means having a rack and gear connected thereto for moving the bridging electrode to and from a label applying position overlying said article on the anvil; cam means operable in response to said movement for swinging said bridging electrode between said hopper and said article in a predetermined path; means on the bridging electrode for engaging and holding thereto the bottom label in the stack for removal individually from the hopper, said bridging electrode pressing the label into engage ment with the article on the anvil with the bridging electrode in cooperative relation with the high frequency electrodes; and means energizing the high frequency electrodes to cause the thermoplastic material of the label to soften and adhere to said article.

16. A device for applying labels to articles, at least one of which includes thermoplastic material, comprising a projecting anvil having heating means over which an article is disposed; a fixed hopper having a stack of labels, said hopper releasably holding the labels for removal from the bottom thereof; a swinging arm having cooperating heating means thereon provided with ports; fluid pressure operated actuating means for swinging the arm and moving said cooperating heating means forwardly and downwardly in a predetermined path from a normal label receiving position below the hopper to a position overlying said article on the anvil and return; vacuum means for applying suction to the ports to remove the bottom label from the hopper and hold it in position over said cooperating heating means for movement thereby into engage ment with the article on the anvil with the cooperating heating means in cooperative relation with the heating means on the anvil; energizing means responsive to the movement of the cooperating heating means to said lastnamed position for causing the thermoplastic material to soften and adhere the label to said article; and control means for sequentially operating the vacuum means and the fluid pressure-operated actuating means, said vacuum means being rendered inoperative after the energization of said heating means and during movement of the arm to normal position.

17. A device for applying labels to articles, at least one of which includes thermopalstic material, comprising an anvil having high frequency electrode means over which an article is disposed; a fixed hopper having a supply of labels therein and provided with an open bottom for removal of the labels seriatim therefrom; means carrying a cooperating electrode swingable in a predetermined path from 'a label receiving position to a position overlying said article on the anvil and having means for holding a label thereto and return; actuating means operating means carrying the cooperating electrode to move the label into engagement with the article on the anvil with the cooperating electrode in cooperative relation with the high frequency electrodes; and means responsive to the movement of the cooperating electrode to the last-named position for energizing the high frequency electorde means to cause the thermoplastic material to soften and adhere the label to said article.

18. A device for applying labels to articles, at least one of which includes thermoplastic material, comprising an anvil having high frequency electrode means over which an article is disposed; a hopper having a stack of labels, said hopper releasably holding the labels for removal from the bottom thereof; a swinging arm having cooperating electrode means thereon; actuating means for swinging the arm and moving said cooperating electrode means in a predetermined path between a normal label receiving position below the hopper and a position overlying said article on the anvil; label holding means for removing the bottom label from the hopper and holding it in position over said cooperaitng electrode means for movement into engagement with the article on the anvil with the cooperating electrode means in cooperative relation with the high frequency electrode means; energizing means for the electrode means when in cooperative relation; and control means for sequentially operating the label holding means, actuating means and energizing means to cause the thermoplastic material to soften and adhere the label to said article, said label holding means being rendered inoperative after the energization of the electrodes and during movement of the arm to normal position.

19. A device for applying labels to articles, at least one of which includes thermoplastic material, comprising an anvil having high frequency electrode means over which an article is disposed; a hopper having a stack of labels, said hopper releasably holding the labels for removal from the bottom thereof; a swinging arm having cooperating electrode means and ports in a label receiving face thereof; actuating means for swinging the arm and moving said cooperating electrode means in a predetermined path between a normal label receiving position below the hopper and a position overlying said article on the anvil; vacuum means to be connected to said ports for removing the bottom label from the hopper and holding it in position over said cooperating electrode means for movement into engagement with the article on the anvil with the cooperating electrode means in cooperative relation with the high frequency electrode means; energizing means for the electrode means when in cooperative relation; and control means for sequentially connecting the ports to the vacuum means operating the actuating means for swinging the arms and completing the circuit for the energizing means to cause the thermoplastic material to soften and adhere the label to said article, said connection of the vacuum means to the ports being rendered inoperative after the energization of the electrodes and during movement of the arm to normal position.

20. A device for applying labels including thermoplastic material to articles comprising heating means including an anvil over which an article is disposed and a cooperating bridging member; a hopper having a supply of labels including thermoplastic material therein, said bridging member being movably mounted on a pivoted arm for swinging movement between the hopper and a position overlying said article on the anvil; means including ports in the face of the bridging member; means connecting a vacuum source to the ports for holding a label thereto for removal from the hopper; actuating means actuating said arm for swinging said bridging member to move the label from the hopper and into pressing engagement with the article on the anvil; and control means for sequentially operating the means connecting the source of vacuum to the ports, the actuating means and means energizing the heating means, when in cooperative relation, to cause the thermoplastic material to soften and adhere the label to said article.

Locke Sept. 27, 1938 Pfeir'er Oct. 31, 1961 

1. A DEVICE FOR APPLYING LABELS TO ARTICLES, AT LEAST ONE OF WHICH INCLUDES THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL, COMPRISING AN ANVIL HAVING HEATING MEANS OVER WHICH AN ARTICLE IS DISPOSED; A FIXE HOPPER HAVING A SUPPLY OF LABELS THEREIN AND PROVIDED WITH AN OPEN BOTTOM FOR REMOVAL OF THE LABELS SERIATIM THEREFROM; MEANS CARRYING A COOPERATING HEATING MEANS SWINGABLE IN A PREDETERMINED PATH BETWEEN A LABEL RECEIVING POSITION AND A POSITION OVERLYING SAID ARTICLE ON THE ANVIL AND HAVING MEANS FOR HOLDING A LABEL THERETO; ACTUATING MEANS OPEATING THE MEANS CARRYING THE COOPERATING HEATING MEANS TO MOVE THE LABEL INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ARTICLE ON THE ANVIL WITH THE COOPERATING HEATING MEANS IN COOPERATIVE RELATION WITH THE HEATING MEANS ON THE ANVIL; AND MEANS ENERGIZING THE HEATING MEANS TO CAUSE THE THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL TO SOFTEN AND ADHERE THE LABEL TO SAID ARTICLE. 